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Lionel Messi signs long-awaited three-year contract… but not with Barcelona

After months of speculation about his future, Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has finally in a massive coup put pen to paper on a three-year deal – not with Barcelona – with Budweiser.

In so doing, the Argentinian maestro who is to many arguably the ‘King of Football’ is now in direct association with the ‘King of Beers’, becoming one of the global ambassadåors of the company. To auspiciously introduce and commemorate the collaboration, Budweiser have released “They Say” – a film specially scripted and produced to document Messi’s symbolic journey of self-belief as he heads into his 20th professional season. Premier League partner Budweiser have joined forces with the global icon and to confirm he’s staying at Barça.

The film also reveals the soon to be released limited-edition Lionel Messi bottle, which is now available at select bars and retailers across India, Columbia, Argentina, Chile, China, Vietnam, Spain and Russia. It is hoped that it comes to the UK soon.

“I’m excited to partner with Budweiser to share my journey that was based on a determination to be the best player I can be,” Messi himself said of the partnership.

“Day after day, year after year, it took sacrifice and hard work to reach my dreams. Hopefully fans around the world will find inspiration in my story to commit to their craft and never give up on greatness, no matter how hard the journey.”

Football fans worldwide, especially Messi’s legions of hardcore followers, are cognisant of the fact that football’s endearing living legend has had a busy summer, to say the least.

Rumours of his discontentment with Barcelona first appeared at the start of lockdown, following a couple of fallouts last season that went public and a change in the management role when Ernesto Valverde was scurrilously replaced by Quique Setien.

Then came Barça’s failure to retain their La Liga title, losing it to arch rivals Real Madrid, which was met by even more whispers of uncertainty. Finally it all came to a head after the 8-2 trouncing by Bayern Munich in the Champions League, with rumors of Messi’s transfer gossip intensifying.

Leo appears to have quelled that recently, but still remains the most talked-about fooballer on Earth right now, without any shadow of a doubt.

Whether or not Messi leaves Barcelona at the end of the season still remains to be seen. For now at least, he’s signed a long-term deal with another giant.

Credit: Football Tribe Malaysia